Student Stories

Sixty-two percent of VFIC students demonstrate financial need, and one-third qualify for federal Pell grants. All Virginia residents attending a VFIC school are eligible for a Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant of $5,250 per year, and VFIC schools offer generous scholarship grants in order to make it possible for their students to attend, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. Still, a gap needs to be bridged between the total financial aid package and demonstrated financial need. This gap averages about $10,000 per student per year.

To make ends meet, students need to take out loans and get jobs. However, circumstances change over the course of four years that exacerbate the problem: tuition increases, the car breaks down, mom gets sick. Financial stress is one of the primary causes of student anxiety and depression. Retention and graduation rates are the markers of a healthy school, and a school’s long-term sustainability depends on keeping its students enrolled and thriving. VFIC dollars directly and positively address this challenge.